Renormalization scheme dependence in analytic approach to perturbative QCD

We further develop the approach recently used to construct an analytic ghos t-free model for the QCD running coupling based on the requirement of the Q (2)-analyticity and apply it to the process of e(+)e(-) annihilation into h adrons to study the renormalization scheme dependence of the R(s) cross-sec tion ratio. By transforming the relevant QCD corrections up to the three-lo op level into the "analytized" form we show that the R-an(s) expression thu s obtained is remarkably stable (as compared to the conventional perturbati ve approach) with respect to the renormalization scheme and higher loop dep endence for the whole low-energy region. At the same time, the analytic app roach provides a good agreement with smeared experimental data already in t he first (loop) approximation. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.